Introduction to THL Tibetan Historical Dictionary

Lexicography in Tibet has a long and rich history dating back to at least the late eighth and early ninth centuries when imperial translators first began to compile multilingual glossaries to facilitate the process of translating Buddhist scriptures into the Tibetan language. Over the ensuing centuries, Tibetans composed a great number of lexicographical works ranging from glossaries to rich Encyclopedia-styled studies. In modern times, Tibetans have continued to composed dictionaries in great numbers, while international scholars have joined the production of dictionaries as well.